1 Samuel 19:17 NIV

Matthew Henry's Complete Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:11-17

Here is, I. Saul's further design of mischief to David. When David had escaped the javelin, supposing he went straight to his own house, as indeed he did, Saul sent some of his guards after him to lay wait at the door of his house, and to assassinate him in the morning as soon as he stirred out, 1 Sam. 19:11. Josephus says the design was to seize him and to hurry him before a court of justice that was ordered to condemn him and put him to death as a traitor; but we are here told it was a... read more

John Gill

John Gills Exposition of the Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:17

And Saul said unto Michal ,.... After the messengers returned and reported what they had seen, when Saul either came to her at her house, or sent for her to his palace: why hast thou deceived me so ; for deceiving his messengers was deceiving him, by pretending David was sick and in bed, when she had placed an image there, and had let him down through a window, and he was gone: and sent away mine enemy, that he is escaped ? as if she was more obliged to gratify the wicked passion of... read more

Adam Clarke

Adam Clarke's Commentary on the Bible - 1 Samuel 19:17

Let me go ; why should I kill thee ? - That is, If thou do not let me go, I will kill thee. This she said to excuse herself to her father: as a wife she could do not less than favor the escape of her husband, being perfectly satisfied that there was no guilt in him. It is supposed that it was on this occasion that David wrote the fifty-ninth Psalm, Deliver me from mine enemies, etc. read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:8-17

Revived sins and troubles. The facts are— 1 . The fresh fame of David arouses the latent ill-will of Saul, who seeks in vain to smite him with a javelin. 2 . David fleeing to his house, Saul sends men to lie in wait for and slay him. 3 . Michal warns him of danger, and during the night aids his escape. 4 . By a clever device she diverts his enemies from an immediate pursuit, and on being accused of aiding her father's enemy, she pleads self-preservation. The troubles of... read more

Spence, H. D. M., etc.

The Pulpit Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:14-17

When, after waiting till the usual hour for David's appearance, he came not, the watchers send and inform Saul, who now orders his open arrest. But Michal despatches a messenger to tell her father that he is sick. Upon this Saul orders bed and all to be brought, that he may slay him. As an Oriental bed is usually a mere strip of carpet, this would be easy enough. But when the messengers force their way through, in spite of every obstruction which Michal can devise to waste time, and come up... read more

Albert Barnes

Albert Barnes' Notes on the Whole Bible - 1 Samuel 19:17

Why should I kill thee? - To avert Saul’s anger from herself, she pretended that David had threatened her life unless she facilitated his escape. read more

Joseph Benson

Joseph Benson's Commentary of the Old and New Testaments - 1 Samuel 19:14-17

1 Samuel 19:14-17. Saul sent messengers to take David As he did not come out of doors, where they waited for him, Saul sent other messengers to take him in the house. She said, He is sick Her affection for David, and fear for his life, induced her to tell a plain lie, in which she is neither to be justified nor imitated. She intended hereby, however, to keep Saul in suspense for a while, till David should arrive at some place of safety. He said, Let me go; why should I kill thee? This... read more

Donald C. Fleming

Bridgeway Bible Commentary - 1 Samuel 19:1-24

Jonathan, Michal and Samuel (19:1-24)For a while Jonathan was successful in persuading his father to stop trying to kill David (19:1-7). However, David’s further military successes made Saul jealous again. He made two more attempts on David’s life, first at the palace, then at David’s house. This time another of Saul’s family, Michal, helped David escape (8-17; cf. Psalms 59:0).David found safety with Samuel at Ramah. Three times Saul sent men to arrest David, but each time they were overcome... read more

E.W. Bullinger

E.W. Bullinger's Companion Bible Notes - 1 Samuel 19:17

why . . . ? Figure of speech Erotesis. App-6 . read more

Thomas Coke

Thomas Coke Commentary on the Holy Bible - 1 Samuel 19:17

1 Samuel 19:17. Michal answered Saul, he said unto me, Let me go, &c.— We have an account of an action of a woman, Polyxena, the sister of the famous Dionysius, tyrant of Sicily, which is as noble and generous as this of Michal's. Her husband was accused of treason. He fled away by means of her contrivance: Dionysius, being informed of it, reproached her very severely, when she replied, "Can you imagine me so ungenerous, as to be acquainted with the danger that my husband was in, without... read more